State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

   [ Search ]   [ PDF text ]   [ Legislation ]   
[ Home ]   [ Back ]   [ Bottom ]


[ Introduced ][ Enrolled ][ House Amendment 001 ]


92_HB2564eng

 
HB2564 Engrossed                              LRB9207432WHtmB

 1        AN ACT concerning business transactions.

 2        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section 5.  The Motor Vehicle Franchise Act is amended by
 5    changing Sections 12, 13, 18, and 29 as follows:

 6        (815 ILCS 710/12) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 762)
 7        Sec.  12.  Arbitration; administrative proceedings; civil
 8    actions; determining good cause.
 9        (a)  The franchiser and franchisee may agree to submit  a
10    dispute  involving  Section  4,  5,  6,  7,  9,  10.1,  or 11
11    cancellation, modification, termination, or refusal to extend
12    or renew an  existing  franchise  or  selling  agreement,  or
13    refusal  to honor succession to ownership or refusal to allow
14    a  sale  or  transfer,  or  the  granting  of  an  additional
15    franchise of the same line  make  or  the  relocating  of  an
16    existing  motor  vehicle dealership within or into a relevant
17    market area where the same line make is then represented,  or
18    the  proposed  arrangement  to establish any additional motor
19    vehicle dealership or other facility limited to the  sale  of
20    factory  repurchase  vehicles  or  late  model  vehicles,  to
21    arbitration. Any such proceeding shall be conducted under the
22    provisions of the Uniform Arbitration Act by a 3 member panel
23    composed  of  one  member appointed by the franchisee and one
24    member appointed by the franchiser who together shall  choose
25    the third member.
26        An  arbitration  proceeding hereunder  for a remedy under
27    paragraph (6) of subsection (d) or paragraph (6),  (8),  (10)
28    or  (11) of subsection (e) of Section 4 of this Act  shall be
29    commenced  by  written  notice  to  the  franchiser  by   the
30    objecting  franchisee within 30 days from the date the dealer
31    received notice to cancel, terminate, modify or not extend or
 
HB2564 Engrossed            -2-               LRB9207432WHtmB
 1    renew an existing franchise or selling agreement  or  refusal
 2    to  honor  succession to ownership or refusal to honor a sale
 3    or  transfer  or  to  grant  or  enter  into  the  additional
 4    franchise or selling agreement, or to  relocate  an  existing
 5    motor  vehicle  dealer;  or  within  60  days of the date the
 6    franchisee received notice in writing by  the  franchiser  of
 7    its  determination  under  any  provision of Section 4 (other
 8    than paragraph (6) of subsection (d) or paragraph  (6),  (8),
 9    (10)  or  (11)  of  subsection (e) of Section 4), 5, 6, 7, 9,
10    10.1, or 11 of this Act; however, if notice of the  provision
11    under  which  the determination has been made is not given by
12    the franchiser, then the proceeding  shall  be  commenced  as
13    provided by Section 14 of this Act.
14        The  franchiser  and  the  franchisee shall appoint their
15    respective  arbitrators  and  they  shall  select  the  third
16    arbitrator within 14 days of receipt of such  notice  by  the
17    franchiser.   The  arbitrators shall commence hearings within
18    60 days after all the arbitrators have been appointed  and  a
19    decision shall be rendered within 30 days after completion of
20    the hearing.
21        During  the  pendency  of  the arbitration, any party may
22    apply to a court of competent jurisdiction which  shall  have
23    power  to  modify  or  stay  the effective date of a proposed
24    additional franchise or selling agreement, or  the  effective
25    date of a proposed motor vehicle dealership relocation or the
26    effective date of a cancellation, termination or modification
27    or  refusal to honor succession or refusal to allow a sale or
28    transfer or extend the expiration  date  of  a  franchise  or
29    selling agreement pending a final determination of the issues
30    raised  in  the  arbitration  hearing  upon such terms as the
31    court may determine.  Any such modification or stay shall not
32    be effective for more than 60 days  unless  extended  by  the
33    court  for  good  cause  or unless the arbitration hearing is
34    then in progress.
 
HB2564 Engrossed            -3-               LRB9207432WHtmB
 1        (b)  If the franchiser and the franchisee have not agreed
 2    to submit a dispute, involving Section 4, 5, 6, 7,  9,  10.1,
 3    or 11 of this Act to arbitration under subsection (a), then a
 4    proceeding   before   the   Motor  Vehicle  Review  Board  as
 5    prescribed by subsection (c) or (d) of Section 12 and Section
 6    29 of  this  Act  for  a  remedy  other  than  damages  under
 7    paragraph  (6) of subsection (d) or paragraph (6), (8), (10),
 8    or (11) of subsection (e) of Section 4 of this Act  shall  be
 9    commenced upon receipt by the Motor Vehicle Review Board of a
10    timely  notice  of  protest or within 60 days of the date the
11    franchisee received notice in writing by  the  franchiser  of
12    its determination under any provision of those Sections other
13    than  paragraph  (6) of subsection (d) or paragraph (6), (8),
14    (10), or (11) of subsection (e) of Section  4  of  this  Act;
15    however,   if   notice  of  the  provision  under  which  the
16    determination has been made is not given by  the  franchiser,
17    then the proceeding shall be commenced as provided by Section
18    14  of  this Act. cancellation, modification, termination, or
19    refusal to extend or renew an existing franchise  or  selling
20    agreement  or  refusal  to  honor  succession to ownership or
21    refusal to allow a sale or transfer or  the  granting  of  an
22    additional  franchise of the same line make or the relocating
23    of an existing motor  vehicle  dealership,  or  the  proposed
24    arrangement   to   establish  any  additional  motor  vehicle
25    dealership or other facility limited to the sale  of  factory
26    repurchase  vehicles  or late  model vehicles, to arbitration
27    under (a), a proceeding for a remedy other than damages shall
28    be commenced upon receipt of a timely notice of protest under
29    paragraph (6) of subsection (d) or  paragraph  (6),  (8),  or
30    (10)  of  subsection (e) of Section 4 of this Act, before the
31    Motor Vehicle Review Board as prescribed by Sections  12  and
32    29 of this Act.
33        During the pendency of a proceeding under this Section, a
34    party  may  apply  to  a court of competent jurisdiction that
 
HB2564 Engrossed            -4-               LRB9207432WHtmB
 1    shall have power to modify or stay the effective  date  of  a
 2    proposed  additional  franchise  or selling agreement, or the
 3    effective  date  of  a  proposed  motor  vehicle   dealership
 4    relocation,   or   the  effective  date  of  a  cancellation,
 5    termination, or modification, or extend the  expiration  date
 6    of  a  franchise  or  selling  agreement  or refusal to honor
 7    succession to ownership or  refusal  to  approve  a  sale  or
 8    transfer  pending a final determination  of the issues raised
 9    in the hearing upon such terms as the  court  may  determine.
10    Any modification or stay shall not be effective for more than
11    60 days unless extended by the court for good cause or unless
12    the hearing is then in progress.
13        (c)  In  proceedings  under  (a) or (b), when determining
14    whether good cause has been  established  for  granting  such
15    proposed  additional  franchise  or selling agreement, or for
16    relocating  an  existing  motor   vehicle   dealership,   the
17    arbitrators    or   Board   shall   consider   all   relevant
18    circumstances in accordance with subsection (v) of Section  2
19    of this Act, including but not limited to:
20             (1)  whether  the  establishment  of such additional
21        franchise  or  the  relocation  of  such  motor   vehicle
22        dealership   is   warranted  by  economic  and  marketing
23        conditions including anticipated future changes;
24             (2)  the   retail   sales   and   service   business
25        transacted by  the  objecting  motor  vehicle  dealer  or
26        dealers  and other motor vehicle dealers of the same line
27        make with a place of business in the relevant market area
28        to be served by the additional franchise or the relocated
29        motor  vehicle  dealership  during  the  5  year   period
30        immediately  preceding  such  notice  as  compared to the
31        business available to them;
32             (3)  the investment necessarily made and obligations
33        incurred by the objecting motor vehicle dealer or dealers
34        and other motor vehicle dealers of  the  same  line  make
 
HB2564 Engrossed            -5-               LRB9207432WHtmB
 1        with  a  place of business in the relevant market area to
 2        be served by the additional franchise  or  the  relocated
 3        motor  vehicle  dealership  to  perform their obligations
 4        under existing franchises or selling agreements; and, the
 5        manufacturer shall give reasonable credit  for  sales  of
 6        factory  repurchase  vehicles  purchased by the objecting
 7        motor vehicle dealer or dealers and other  motor  vehicle
 8        dealers  of the same line make with the place of business
 9        in  the  relevant  market  area  to  be  served  by   the
10        additional  franchise  or  the  relocated  motor  vehicle
11        dealership, or the additional motor vehicle dealership or
12        other  facility limited to the sale of factory repurchase
13        or late model vehicles,  at  manufacturer  authorized  or
14        sponsored   auctions   in   determining   performance  of
15        obligations  under   existing   franchises   or   selling
16        agreements relating to total new vehicle sales;
17             (4)  the   permanency   of  the  investment  of  the
18        objecting motor vehicle dealer or dealers and other motor
19        vehicle dealers of the same line make  with  a  place  of
20        business  in the relevant market area to be served by the
21        additional  franchise  or  the  relocated  motor  vehicle
22        dealership;
23             (5)  whether it is beneficial or  injurious  to  the
24        public  welfare  for an additional franchise or relocated
25        motor vehicle dealership to be established;
26             (6)  whether the objecting motor vehicle  dealer  or
27        dealers  and other motor vehicle dealers of the same line
28        make with a place of business in the relevant market area
29        to be served by the additional  franchisee  or  relocated
30        motor   vehicle   dealership   are   providing   adequate
31        competition  and  convenient  consumer care for the motor
32        vehicles of the same line make owned or operated  in  the
33        area   to  be  served  by  the  additional  franchise  or
34        relocated motor vehicle dealership;
 
HB2564 Engrossed            -6-               LRB9207432WHtmB
 1             (7)  whether the objecting motor vehicle  dealer  or
 2        dealers  and other motor vehicle dealers of the same line
 3        make with a place of business in the relevant market area
 4        to  be  served  by  the  additional  franchisee  or   the
 5        relocated  motor  vehicle  dealership have adequate motor
 6        vehicle sales and service facilities, equipment,  vehicle
 7        parts  and  qualified personnel to reasonably provide for
 8        the needs of the customer; provided, however,  that  good
 9        cause  shall  not be shown solely by a desire for further
10        market penetration;
11             (8)  whether  the  establishment  of  an  additional
12        franchise or the relocation of a motor vehicle dealership
13        would be in the public interest;
14             (9)  whether there has been a material breach  by  a
15        motor  vehicle dealer of the existing franchise agreement
16        which creates a substantially detrimental effect upon the
17        distribution of the franchiser's motor  vehicles  in  the
18        affected  motor  vehicle dealer's relevant market area or
19        fraudulent  claims  for  warranty  work,  insolvency   or
20        inability to pay debts as they mature;
21             (10)  the  effect  of  an  additional  franchise  or
22        relocated  motor  vehicle  dealership  upon  the existing
23        motor vehicle dealers  of  the  same  line  make  in  the
24        relevant  market  area  to  be  served  by the additional
25        franchisee or relocated motor vehicle dealership; and
26             (11)  whether the manufacturer has given  reasonable
27        credit  to  the objecting motor vehicle dealer or dealers
28        and other motor vehicle dealers of  the  same  line  make
29        with  a  place of business in the relevant market area to
30        be served by the additional franchise or relocated  motor
31        vehicle dealership or additional motor vehicle dealership
32        or   other  facility  limited  to  the  sale  of  factory
33        repurchase or late model vehicles, for  retail  sales  of
34        factory   repurchase  vehicles  purchased  by  the  motor
 
HB2564 Engrossed            -7-               LRB9207432WHtmB
 1        vehicle dealer or dealers at manufacturer  authorized  or
 2        sponsored auctions.
 3        (d)  In  proceedings  under  subsection  (a) or (b), when
 4    determining whether  good  cause  has  been  established  for
 5    cancelling,  terminating,  refusing  to  extend  or renew, or
 6    changing or modifying the obligations of  the  motor  vehicle
 7    dealer  as a condition to offering a renewal, replacement, or
 8    succeeding franchise or selling agreement, the arbitrators or
 9    Board shall consider all relevant circumstances in accordance
10    with subsection (v) of Section 2 of this Act,  including  but
11    not limited to:
12             (1)  The  amount  of  retail sales transacted by the
13        franchisee during a 5-year period immediately before  the
14        date  of the notice of proposed action as compared to the
15        business available to the franchisee.
16             (2)  The investment necessarily made and obligations
17        incurred by the franchisee to perform  its  part  of  the
18        franchise.
19             (3)  The permanency of the franchisee's investment.
20             (4)  Whether  it is injurious to the public interest
21        for the franchise to be cancelled or  terminated  or  not
22        extended  or  modified,  or the business of the franchise
23        disrupted.
24             (5)  Whether  the  franchisee  has  adequate   motor
25        vehicle  sales and service facilities, equipment, vehicle
26        parts, and service personnel to  reasonably  provide  for
27        the need of the customers for the same line make of motor
28        vehicles handled by the franchisee.
29             (6)  Whether  the  franchisee  fails  to fulfill the
30        warranty obligations of the manufacturer required  to  be
31        performed by the franchisee.
32             (7)  The  extent and materiality of the franchisee's
33        failure to comply with the terms of the franchise and the
34        reasonableness and fairness of those terms.
 
HB2564 Engrossed            -8-               LRB9207432WHtmB
 1             (8)  Whether the owners of the franchise had  actual
 2        knowledge  of  the  facts  and  circumstances  upon which
 3        cancellation or termination, failure to extend or  renew,
 4        or  changing  or  modification  of the obligations of the
 5        franchisee  as  a  condition  to  offering   a   renewal,
 6        replacement,   or   succeeding   franchise   or   selling
 7        agreement.
 8        (e)  If the franchiser and the franchisee have not agreed
 9    to  submit  a dispute to arbitration, and the dispute did not
10    arise under paragraph (6) of subsection (d) or paragraph (6),
11    (8), or (10), or (11) of subsection (e) of Section 4 of  this
12    Act,  then  a  proceeding for a remedy other than damages may
13    shall be   commenced  by  the  objecting  franchisee  in  the
14    circuit court of the county in which the objecting franchisee
15    has  its  principal  place of business, within 60 days of the
16    date  the  franchisee  received  notice  in  writing  by  the
17    franchiser of its determination under any provision  of  this
18    Act  other  than paragraph (6) of subsection (d) or paragraph
19    (6), (8), (10), or (11) of subsection (e)  of  Section  4  of
20    this Act; however, if notice of the provision under which the
21    determination  has  been made is not given by the franchiser,
22    then the proceeding shall be commenced as provided by Section
23    14 of this Act.  the  aforesaid  Sections,  or  as  otherwise
24    prescribed by Section 13 of this Act.
25        (f)  The  changes to this Section made by this amendatory
26    Act of the 92nd General Assembly (i) apply only to causes  of
27    action  accruing  on or after its effective date and (ii) are
28    intended to provide only  an  additional  venue  for  dispute
29    resolution without changing any substantive rights under this
30    Act.
31    (Source: P.A. 89-145, eff. 7-14-95.)

32        (815 ILCS 710/13) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 763)
33        Sec.  13.   Damages;  equitable relief. Any franchisee or
 
HB2564 Engrossed            -9-               LRB9207432WHtmB
 1    motor vehicle  dealer  who  suffers  any  loss  of  money  or
 2    property,  real  or  personal,  as  a  result  of  the use or
 3    employment  by  a  manufacturer,   wholesaler,   distributor,
 4    distributor  branch  or division, factory branch or division,
 5    wholesale branch  or  division,  or  any  agent,  servant  or
 6    employee  thereof,  of  an unfair method of competition or an
 7    unfair or deceptive act or practice declared unlawful by this
 8    Act, or any action in violation of this  Act,  may  bring  an
 9    action for damages and equitable relief, including injunctive
10    relief,  in  the  circuit  court  of  the county in which the
11    objecting franchisee has its principal place of business  or,
12    if  the  parties  have  so  agreed,  in  arbitration.  If the
13    misconduct is  willful  or  wanton,  treble  damages  may  be
14    awarded. Where the misconduct is willful or wanton, the court
15    may  award  treble damages. A motor vehicle dealer, if it has
16    not suffered any  loss  of  money  or  property,  may  obtain
17    permanent equitable relief if it can be shown that the unfair
18    act  or  practice may have the effect of causing such loss of
19    money  or  property.   Where   the   franchisee   or   dealer
20    substantially  prevails  the  court  or  arbitration panel or
21    Motor Vehicle Review Board shall award  attorney's  fees  and
22    assess   costs,  including  expert  witness  fees  and  other
23    expenses incurred by the dealer in the litigation, so long as
24    such fees and costs  are  reasonable,  against  the  opposing
25    party.  Moreover, for the purposes of the award of attorney's
26    fees, expert witness fees, and costs whenever the  franchisee
27    or   dealer  is  seeking  injunctive  or  other  relief,  the
28    franchisee or dealer may be considered to have prevailed when
29    a  judgment  is  entered  in  its   favor,   when   a   final
30    administrative decision is entered in its favor and affirmed,
31    if  subject  to  judicial  review,  when  a  consent order is
32    entered  into,  or  when   the   manufacturer,   distributor,
33    wholesaler, distributor branch or division, factory branch or
34    division, wholesale branch or division, or any officer, agent
 
HB2564 Engrossed            -10-              LRB9207432WHtmB
 1    or  other  representative  thereof ceases the conduct, act or
 2    practice which is alleged to be in violation of  any  Section
 3    of this Act.
 4        The  changes  to this Section made by this amendatory Act
 5    of the 92nd General Assembly (i)  apply  only  to  causes  of
 6    action  accruing  on or after its effective date and (ii) are
 7    intended to provide only  an  additional  venue  for  dispute
 8    resolution without changing any substantive rights under this
 9    Act.
10    (Source: P.A. 91-485, eff. 1-1-00; 91-533, eff. 8-13-99.)

11        (815 ILCS 710/18)
12        Sec.  18.   Board;  powers.   The  Board  shall  have the
13    following powers:
14        (a)  To  conduct  hearings,  by  or  through   its   duly
15    authorized  administrative hearing officer, on protests filed
16    under Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10.1, 11, and 12 of this Act.
17        (b)  To make reasonable regulations that are necessary to
18    carry out and effect its official  duties  and  such  further
19    rules as necessary relating to the time, place, and manner of
20    conducting hearings as provided for in this Act.
21        (c)  To advise the Secretary of State upon appointments.
22        (d)  To  advise  the  Secretary  of  State on legislation
23    proposed to amend this Act or any related Act.
24        The changes to this Section made by this  amendatory  Act
25    of  the  92nd  General  Assembly  (i) apply only to causes of
26    action accruing on or after its effective date and  (ii)  are
27    intended  to  provide  only  an  additional venue for dispute
28    resolution without changing any substantive rights under this
29    Act.
30    (Source: P.A. 89-145, eff. 7-14-95; 89-433, eff. 12-15-95.)

31        (815 ILCS 710/29)
32        Sec.  29.   Procedures  for  hearing  on  protest.   Upon
 
HB2564 Engrossed            -11-              LRB9207432WHtmB
 1    receipt of a timely notice of protest filed  with  the  Motor
 2    Vehicle Review Board under paragraph (6) of subsection (d) or
 3    paragraph  (6),  (8), or (10) of subsection (e) of Section 4,
 4    5, 6, 7, 9, 10.1, 11, or and Section  12  of  this  Act,  the
 5    Motor Vehicle Review Board shall enter an order fixing a date
 6    (within 60 days of the date of the order), time, the place of
 7    a   hearing  and  send  by  certified  mail,  return  receipt
 8    requested, a copy of the order to the  manufacturer  and  the
 9    objecting dealer or dealers.  Subject to Section 10-20 of the
10    Illinois   Administrative  Procedure  Act,  the  Board  shall
11    designate a hearing officer who shall  conduct  the  hearing.
12    All   administrative  hearing  officers  shall  be  attorneys
13    licensed to practice law in this State.
14        At the time and place fixed in  the  Board's  order,  the
15    Board  or  its  duly  authorized  agent, the hearing officer,
16    shall proceed to hear the protest, and  all  parties  to  the
17    protest shall be afforded an opportunity to present in person
18    or  by counsel, statements, testimony, evidence, and argument
19    as may be pertinent to the issues.  The hearing  officer  may
20    continue  the  hearing  date  by agreement of the parties, or
21    upon a finding of good cause,  but  in  no  event  shall  the
22    hearing  be  rescheduled  more than 90 days after the Board's
23    initial order.
24        Upon any hearing, the Board or its duly authorized agent,
25    the hearing officer, may administer oaths  to  witnesses  and
26    issue  subpoenas  for  the  attendance  of witnesses or other
27    persons and the production of  relevant  documents,  records,
28    and  other  evidence and may require examination thereon. For
29    purposes of discovery, the Board or  its  designated  hearing
30    officer  may,  if  deemed  appropriate  and  proper under the
31    circumstances,  authorize  the  parties  to  engage  in  such
32    discovery procedures as are provided for in civil actions  in
33    Section  2-1003  of  the  Code of Civil Procedure.  Discovery
34    shall  be  completed  no  later  than  15   days   prior   to
 
HB2564 Engrossed            -12-              LRB9207432WHtmB
 1    commencement  of  the  proceeding or hearing.  Enforcement of
 2    discovery procedures shall be as provided in the regulations.
 3    Subpoenas issued shall  be  served  in  the  same  manner  as
 4    subpoenas  issued  out  of  the  circuit courts.  The fees of
 5    subpoenaed witnesses under this Act for attendance and travel
 6    shall be the same as fees of  witnesses  before  the  circuit
 7    courts  of  this State, such fees to be paid when the witness
 8    is excused from further attendance, provided the  witness  is
 9    subpoenaed   at  the  instance  of  the  Board  or  an  agent
10    authorized by the Board; and payment of fees  shall  be  made
11    and  audited  in  the  same  manner  as other expenses of the
12    Board.  Whenever a subpoena is issued at  the  request  of  a
13    party  to  a  proceeding,  complainant, or respondent, as the
14    case may be, the Board may require that the cost  of  service
15    of  the  subpoena  and  the fee of same shall be borne by the
16    party at whose instance the  witness  is  summoned,  and  the
17    Board  shall  have  power,  in  its  discretion, to require a
18    deposit to cover the cost of service and witness fees and the
19    payment of the legal witness fee and mileage to  the  witness
20    served  with  the  subpoena. In any protest before the Board,
21    the Board or its  designated  hearing  officer  may  order  a
22    mandatory  settlement  conference.  The failure of a party to
23    appear, to be prepared, or to have authority  to  settle  the
24    matter may result in any or all of the following:
25        (a)  The  Board  or  its  designated  hearing officer may
26    suspend all proceedings before the Board in the matter  until
27    compliance.
28        (b)  The  Board  or  its  designated  hearing officer may
29    dismiss the proceedings or any part thereof before the  Board
30    with or without prejudice.
31        (c)  The  Board  or  its  designated  hearing officer may
32    require all of the Board's costs to be paid by the  party  at
33    fault.
34        Any  circuit court of this State, upon application of the
 
HB2564 Engrossed            -13-              LRB9207432WHtmB
 1    Board, or an officer or agent designated by the Board for the
 2    purpose of conducting any hearing, may,  in  its  discretion,
 3    compel  the attendance of witnesses, the production of books,
 4    papers, accounts,  or  documents,  and  giving  of  testimony
 5    before  the  Board  or before any officer or agent designated
 6    for the purpose of conducting the hearing.  Failure  to  obey
 7    the order may be punished by the circuit court as contempt.
 8        A party may conduct cross-examination required for a full
 9    and  fair disclosure of the facts. Within 20 days of the date
10    of the hearing, the hearing officer shall issue  his  or  her
11    proposed  decision to the Board and shall, by certified mail,
12    return receipt requested, serve the  proposed  decision  upon
13    the  parties,  with  an opportunity afforded to each party to
14    file exceptions and present a brief to the  Board  within  10
15    days of their receipt of the proposed decision.  The proposed
16    decision  shall  contain  a  statement of the reasons for the
17    decision and each issue of  fact  or  law  necessary  to  the
18    proposed  decision.   The  Board  shall  then issue its final
19    order which,  if  applicable,  shall  include  the  award  of
20    attorney's  fees,  expert  witness fees, and an assessment of
21    costs, including other expenses incurred in  the  litigation,
22    if  permitted  under this Act, so long as such fees and costs
23    are reasonable.
24        In a hearing on a protest filed under  paragraph  (6)  of
25    subsection  (d)  or  paragraph  (6), (8), or (10), or (11) of
26    Section 4 or Section 12 of this Act, the  manufacturer  shall
27    have  the  burden  of  proof  to establish that there is good
28    cause  for  the  franchiser  to:   grant  or   establish   an
29    additional  franchise  or  relocate  an  existing  franchise;
30    cancel,  terminate,  refuse to extend or renew a franchise or
31    selling agreement; or change or modify the obligations of the
32    motor vehicle dealer as a condition to  offering  a  renewal,
33    replacement,  or succeeding franchise or selling agreement or
34    refuse to honor succession to ownership or refuse to  approve
 
HB2564 Engrossed            -14-              LRB9207432WHtmB
 1    a  proposed transfer or sale.  The determination whether good
 2    cause exists shall be made under Section 12 of this Act.
 3        The Board shall  record  the  testimony  and  preserve  a
 4    record  of  all proceedings at the hearing by proper means of
 5    recordation.   The  notice  required  to  be  given  by   the
 6    manufacturer  and  notice  of  protest by the dealer or other
 7    party, the notice of hearing, and all other documents in  the
 8    nature  of  pleadings,  motions,  and  rulings, all evidence,
 9    offers  of  proof,  objections,  and  rulings  thereon,   the
10    transcript  of  testimony, the report of findings or proposed
11    decision of the hearing officer, and the orders of the  Board
12    shall  constitute  the  record of the proceedings.  The Board
13    shall furnish a  transcript  of  the  record  to  any  person
14    interested  in  the  hearing  upon payment of the actual cost
15    thereof.
16        The changes to this Section made by this  amendatory  Act
17    of  the  92nd  General  Assembly  (i) apply only to causes of
18    action accruing on or after its effective date and  (ii)  are
19    intended  to  provide  only  an  additional venue for dispute
20    resolution without changing any substantive rights under this
21    Act.
22    (Source: P.A. 91-485, eff. 1-1-00.)

[ Top ]